THE ORGANIZATION

The Tipi Raisers / Ti Ikciya Pa Slata Pi is a 501(c) 3 (non profit) organization registered in the state of South Dakota and located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. All donations are tax deductible. The nonprofit was originally founded in 2009 as the Buffalo Boy Foundation. When it changed leadership in 2012 the Lakota elders on the board felt that the name should be given in ceremony. Ti Ikciya Pa Slata Pi was the name that came out of an ensuing Inipi Ceremony (sweat lodge). The elders had some difficulty coming up with a translation for what they heard that night but ultimately agreed The Tipi Raisers would be a loose translation. The elders shared that the concept that Ti Ikciya Pa Slata Pi represents was that of everyone coming together in a reciprocal exchange of community building.
 
Most programming takes place on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation but surrounding Reservations are also in the scope of our work. The administrative office is located in Colorado and the Youth Ambassadors, drummers and elders travel to Colorado quite frequently to share the Lakota wisdom, culture and traditions.